Cleat Talking - Still Flyin [San Francisco]
Party machines Still Flyin’ have announced their next record. On A Bedroom Wall is due out May 21. Here’s our first listen, the energetic track “Cleat Talking.” This is my favorite Still Flyin song since “Runaway Train II.” It’s got a bouncy melody, positive lyrics and a strong spirit. Here’s hoping I can sing along to this one live soon!
Still Flyin also have an interesting contest going on to win some custom-made Still Flyin cleats.
[Words - You Ain’t No Picasso]
[Photo]
The Spell - Naomi Punk [Washington State]
A couple of years ago Olympia’s Naomi Punk released their self-titled first album and blew me away. It was nine tracks of delightfully fuzzy garage-pop and grunge that I couldn’t get over. A little more than a year later they released the CLS EP, packaged in a DVD case that still leaves me wishing for video accompaniments to all three tracks. Now the trio has announced their second record, The Feeling, will drop April 24 via Couple Skate. The record is fourteen months in the making, and while the first single holds the same grungy atmospheres as earlier Naomi Punk tracks, it certainly sounds cleaner, showing off a bit more what the trio are capable of.
The Feeling drops 4/24 via Couple Skate Records.
[Words - Decoder]
Promise Me Eternity - Mood Rings [Atlanta]
Atlanta’s MOOD RINGS have just dropped an early demo for their upcoming LP, Dream Infinity Live In Fantasy. This is a slow burner, mood mellower. Really quite different from the previous stuff on Sweater Weather Forever – I dig.
http://moodrings.bandcamp.com
[Words - Pasta Primavera]
Dead Pontoon - Toro Y Moi [South Carolina]
Since 2009, Chaz Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, has helped pioneer a contemporary strand of glowing, electronic pop. And his most recent releases have moved towards “explicitly funky 80s-tinged dancefloor jams”. But earlier in his career, in summer 2009, Bundick was creating confessional, lo-fi guitar pop indebted more to artists like Ariel Pink. Now Bundick presents the retrospective June 2009, a 7” vinyl box set collecting 10 of those songs, which were previously released as a tour only CD-R. It’s out April 24 via Carpark, and also available digitally and on CD. Check out a cut from the release, “Dead Pontoon”.
http://www.facebook.com/toroymoi
[Words - Gorilla vs Bear]
Don’t Reach Out - Long Weekends [Halifax]
They go by the name Long Weekends, three gentlemen based out of Halifax who, after a string of digital releases, are moving into the physical with a new 7″ for single “Don’t Reach Out.” It’s a gloomy lo-fi rocker that reconciles pieces of 1960s garage rock with 1980s new wave into one decades-spanning work that might almost pass for being written at any point in the last 50-odd years, if it weren’t for some bouncing, warbling vocal work that keep things rooted in the modern.
Long Weekend’s venture into vinyl will be available through Noyes Records sometime soon.
http://longweekends.bandcamp.com
[Words - Soft Signal]
Nowhere - Wild Nothing [Virginia]
It’s been over a year since we heard new music from Wild Nothing, but new track (and 7” on Captured Tracks) “Nowhere” seeks to prove it was worth the wait. No longer just the bedroom-recordings of Jack Tatum, the Nowhere 7” features Tatum hitting the studio and teaming up a bit with Twin Sister’s Andrea Estella to add to the already beautiful moods of his music. The band is apparently hard at work on their next album, and we should expect before this year’s end (and the world’s end with it.)
The Nowhere 7” drops 2/21 but will be available to pre-order soon via Captured Tracks.
[Words - Decoder]
It Will Never Be - White Fence [Los Angeles]
White Fence, the lo-fi paisley garage side project of Darker My Love’s Tim Presley, released the solid Is Growing Faith last year on Woodsist. Presley has a double LP, Family Perfume, planned for release on that label for this year; the two albums will be released separately first, to be compiled together later on in the year. Vol. 1 is out April 3; this “edit” of “It Will Never Be” is the first single from that release.
[Words - Weekly Tape Deck]
Wishing Well - Cheyenne Marie Mize [Louisville]
Kentuckian’s own Cheyenne Marie Mize put out her new album We Don’t Need on a wide vinyl and digital release this week. She’s performing at Cosmic Charlie’s this Friday at a YANP-sponsored show. If you enjoy the song, check out the show!
This track has the stomp of a cheerleader chant with the soul of a blues song and the spirit of a Janis Joplin track. But miraculously the track doesn’t suffer for the wide base of influences. It’s a strong song that I keep replaying.
[Words - You Ain’t No Picasso]
[Photo]
Chin Chin - Sean Nicholas Savage [Montreal]
If small town fairs were hip to the culture of cheap thrills and cheese appeal that speaks to my inner child, I’d hear Flamingo on the tinny speakers beside my head while I wait in line for elephant ears and ride vouchers. Sean Savage is calmer and quieter here than I’ve known him to be. These are vaguely erotic hand-holding and ferris-wheel-secret-telling songs. I want to win the big bear prize for my gal and make promises to her while the sun sets. Lovely meets funny as Sean trills, woos and oohs you.
http://seannicholassavage.bandcamp.com
[Words - Weird Canada]
Close To Me - Sophia Knapp [San Francisco]
Although we haven’t heard all of Sophia Knapp’s forthcoming, Bill Callahan-featuring debut full-length Into the Waves, the great Drag City says the record is reminiscent of “melodic psych pop of the 60’s, Tropicalia ballads, chilly New York dance records of the 80’s, and the seduction of Stevie Nicks or Françoise Hardy,” (i.e., everything that is awesome), and the excellent “Close to Me” manages to sort of evoke all of those things and more in one song:
Into the Waves is out 2/28 on Drag City.
[Words - Gorilla vs Bear]
Empty Days - Vague Horror
Alex Moxam, who, if you’ve been reading this blog since November of 2010, produced delightful lo-fi folk tunes under the moniker Triangle (he was also the live drummer for Philly’s Arches). That was then. That was during his time in Honduras. Now he’s back in the US and back in Bmore and…well different. Vague Horror is his new project and it feels like a 360 from his previous recordings. Somewhat darker and dreamier. It’s faded, damaged, and withered psych-ish rock…and it’s awesome.
Vague Horror is Moxam and his pal Kevin. Things are in the works for more songs, so I’ll be sure to keep y’alls posted.
[Words - Pasta Primavera]
Madeleine - Lissy Trullie [New York City]
I might be late on the Lissy Trullie train, but I’m glad I jumped on. Her new track “Madeleine” is strikingly elegant and bold- it’s definitely got this Velvet Underground sound to it. Her self-titled album produced by John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.) and Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio) is coming out March 6th via Downtown Records and if it’s anything like “Madeleine” then I’ll be happy.
[Words - Pasta Primavera]
[Photo]
In the Yard - Bowerbirds [North Carolina]
After premiering one of our favorites songs that will be released this year, “Tuck The Darkness In,” Bowerbirds are now offering up track two from their upcoming album, The Clearing. Beth Tacular takes on lead vocals this time around, and the song build to unexpected places (distorted accordion?) that are worth seeing through. The Clearing will be released on March 6th via Dead Oceans, and you can download “In The Yard” below.
[Words - Stereogum]
What Else Is There To Say ? - BRUSQUE TWINS [Montreal]
Wipe that icy sweat off your brow and vogue like a vampire. Visage Musique’s late 2011 salvo sends out a coldwave of shimmering shivers with minimal emotion and maximum satisfaction, spanning the label’s extended family, WC fave Femminielli and a fresh cast of freaks. Black light aerobics and arena anthems pump it up like Pavel Bure while the witching hour survivors get their kicks. G to the RIP.
http://visagemusique.bandcamp.com
[Words - Weird Canada]
Deep Ocean - Some Ember
Y’alls probably know by now that I’m a big ole fan of the Crash Symbols label as well as their blogarific counterpart Decoder. Well on their recent elite comp Dope Mountain Fuck Vol. 2 there’s a brilliant track from Oakland’s Some Ember. This electronic gold is the star of my stereo on this fine and sunny Saturday afternoon.
http://soundcloud.com/some-ember
[Words - Pasta Primavera]
Brooklyn Sunburn - Teen Daze [Vancouver]
Vancouver’s Teen Daze has announced a debut LP, titled All Of Us, Together, due on May 22nd via Lefse. Below, you can download “Brooklyn Sunburn,” (via The Fader) an aptly titled bit of shimmery electronica that treads into elements that could be described as uplifting, even redemptive.
http://teendaze.bandcamp.com
[Words - One Thirty BPM]
[Photo]
Benefits - Poor Spirits
Somedays I look at my inbox and wonder why the hell I ever started this confounded music blog. Then there are days like today where I’m thankful that I did. As of late you might have noticed some posts on Poor Spirits, a rad electronic pop artist that I really know nothing about. But yet through email and twitter I’ve come to know the dude a little bit, so much so that he values my opinion on new work before he puts it out. ??? That’s an amazing feeling. I’m honored really that anyone would think that of me and Pasta Primavera. Anyways he’s sent some new stuff over, one being “Benefits”, and it’s my jam right now. Sugar sweet electronic pops with eerie auto-tuned vocals that somehow fit perfectly.
http://soundcloud.com/poor-spirits
[Words - Pasta Primavera]
Sophisticuffs - Uncle Skeleton [Nashville]
In 2010 I found out about producer Uncle Skeleton (until recently of Nashville’s Kindercastle) with relation to his label, Yewknee Records, who had released his debut the previous year and more recently been written up on Nashville Scene for being an early proponent of free digital releases to accompany limited edition physical ones. As solid as the label’s own format has proven, it pales beside Uncle Skeleton’s latest cuts, taken from his upcoming third album All Too Human. The new single, bundled with a remix, outtake, and b-side, demonstrate a strong progression for Uncle Skeleton since his 2009 debut Pancho Chumley. Although his older music was always catchy and engrossing, these songs feel better developed, like harder decisions were made during recording. Even the remix from Burgers, aka Nashville music photographer Steve Cross, does the original justice, taking Uncle Skeleton’s breezy disco funk for a more disciplined workout.
Look for Uncle Skeleton’s All Too Human 2xLP on Nashville’s Yewknee Records this spring.
[Words - Decoder]
Monde fallacieux (Extended) - POLICE DES MOEURS [Montreal]
Wipe that icy sweat off your brow and vogue like a vampire. Visage Musique’s late 2011 salvo sends out a coldwave of shimmering shivers with minimal emotion and maximum satisfaction, spanning the label’s extended family, WC fave Femminielli and a fresh cast of freaks. Black light aerobics and arena anthems pump it up like Pavel Bure while the witching hour survivors get their kicks. G to the RIP.
http://visagemusique.bandcamp.com
[Words - Weird Canada]
Dntwnt2go - Mark Aubert [San Francisco]
I wrote about Mark Aubert last year, shortly after we moved to the Bay Area and I discovered (a part of) the plethora of amazing musicians that reside here. Mark is nothing if not prolific, and he recently posted a new track that’s totally mind-blowing, as usual. Making use of a slowed-down background sample that sounds a lot like it came from Johnny Preston’s classic “Running Bear” (maybe it did), the new song (titled “Dntwnt2go”) is moved along by another vocal sample repeating “I don’t wanna go” while sick beats and other various samples are parlayed into a bumping soundscape that you won’t want to leave.
I also suggest checking out his latest full release, Lost / Found, which you can download for free (along with his many other albums) at his bandcamp.
http://markaubert.bandcamp.com
[Words - Decoder]
[Photo]
From Blue to Black - GPSYMTH [USA]
After a small preview last fall, GPSYMTH released his first full-length album, Ripostes, this past Friday, and it does not disappoint. It’s packed full of dreamy synth-pop tunes that shimmer and sparkle like gems in moonlight; moments of pure warmth are soon followed by cool shadows passing over. I particularly enjoy the track “From Blue to Black”, with an intro that sounds like a pleasant videogame starting, before it moves into deep mists of vocal layers and sparse drum machines. Perfect for headphones and contemplation, Ripostes is a well-rounded album whose tracks are stitched together from the same soft cloth.
You can download all of Ripostes for a whopping $2 at his bandcamp.
http://gpsymth.bandcamp.com
[Words - Decoder]
February - Boyscout Discovery [Portland]
The widely-endorsed Portland musician Boyscout Discovery is currently putting together his latest release, for now only titled LP (In Progress). His tracks are a sort of auditory pinball machine — a mixture of beeps, clicks, and various sound and vocal samples all fluidly triggering one another. Check out “February”, an impressively-constructed, movie clip-laden track with perfectly-timed synth glitches and a solid beat. You can download all of his music for free at the bandcamp, and his latest is set to drop Feb. 23rd.
http://boyscoutdiscovery.bandcamp.com
[Words - Decoder]
High Noon - Marshall Trotter [Atlanta]
Mirror Universe is set to drop their first tape release of the year this Spring, Small Troubles from one Marshall Trotter. If the name isn’t ringing any bells fret not, he’s previously gone by the moniker Aux Arc. Though he has decided to drop the moniker, the music still feels as bright and erratic as it ever did. Last October our pal Ric at International Tapes shared the demo version of “High Noon” on Altered Zones, and now we have the pleasure of debuting the final version. The track is hyper; bouncy enough to have you dancing at double speed. Even with a slightly wistful tinge to the vocals, they flow in a way that makes the soul sway. Small Troubles drops on tape this Spring via Mirror Universe and the first edition is limited to 50 copies.
https://www.facebook.com/marshalltrotter
[Words - Decoder]
